30.8.17

How to Achieve the Natural 'No Makeup Makeup' Look

‘No-makeup makeup’ is a contradiction I know. But as much as I love makeup I don’t always want to wear a smoky eye, cut crease and bold lip. Day to day, natural(ish) makeup is my thing. The kind of makeup that’s soft, fresh and flattering, playing up to my favourite features without using a heap of makeup products, just the bare necessities. So I’ve rounded up a few of my favourite products to add to your bag to achieve a no-makeup look.

First things first start with a fresh face. The key to a no-makeup makeup look is skincare, as well hydrated skin looks luminous. My current go-to moisturiser is Estée Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15. It’s a rare occurrence when I find a moisturiser I really love, but I can’t see myself switching this out anytime soon. It’s packed with antioxidants, feels rich and nourishing without being greasy and smells nice, too. After use my skin feels soft, glowy and plumped. Most importantly it works well under makeup, absorbing just enough to help my preferred beauty base blend beautifully.

Using my It Cosmetics Heavenly Skin Brush I buff on a beauty base that gives that bare skin-effect. I’m aware I’ve mentioned this foundation a fare few times, but Make Up For Ever Waterblend Foundation is a game-changer and my go-to when I’m not craving full coverage. It’s leaves my skin looking like actual skin, offering enough pigment to neutralise redness and blur imperfections. Another foundation with a natural ‘you’re skin but better’ finish is Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Cushion Stick Foundation. The easy-to-use stick foundation, is ideal if your rushed (or lazy) and the cushion can be popped off and washed. It’s dewier and sheerer than the original Double Wear formulation and to apply you simply touch on, buff and blend to get a radiant and undetectable finish.

For a believable sun kissed glow, industry and Emily approved Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronze Universel Bronzing Makeup Base is my top pick. It has a moussey texture that leaves a beautiful soft focus glow, blurring imperfections and smoothing my skins texture creating a natural, clean sculpted effect. Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder is an affordable option to fake than instant sun kissed glow and it also smells like chocolate! For highlight I tend to pick a cream formulation over powder as the latter tends to look a little chalky. MAC Hush Cream Colour Base looks beautiful spread over the tops of my cheekbones and makes my skin look dewy not shimmery. Hello glow. Admittedly blusher isn’t a product I use all too frequently, but when I do want to inject a little colour back into my cheeks I opt for a rose or peach toned blushers with a hint of shimmer. Just a little swipe on both cheeks and I’m set.

For instant brows, a couple of coats of Benefit Gimme Brow will have everyone believing your brows are just that good. The fibre formulation adds volume and packs just the right amount of pigment. If you have little interest in filling in your brows, I recommend Eylure’s Tint Kit especially if you have fair arches. Next brush on a colour onto your lids (or go bare). My neutral go-to shadow is Makeup Geek Crème Brulee.

Maybelline Lash Sensational is a mascara that’s stood the test of time and has been hard to beat. But we have a newbie on the block L'Oreal Paris Paradise Mascara. Just a few swipes of this stuff does the trick at instantly lifting my eyes without leaving my lashes stuck together. It’s more lengthening than volumnising, but the formula is easy to build for seriously lengthy “are your lashes real?” lashes. And the best part? It won’t break the bank.

To finish, keep the lips simple with a sheer balm. Tbh, I don’t have many tinted formulations I’m fond of. But Dr Lipp's Original Nipple Balm gives a nice sheen to the lips without being serious glossy. Another easy option is to use your favourite lipstick, but instead of applying directly from the bullet, dab the colour into the centre of your lips and diffuse the colour with your finger for a more natural look.